Let's face it...our country, is kind of a mess right now. Our debt is spiraling out of control, our elected officials cannot compromise on anything for the good of the nation, the health care reform needs to be reformed, our relationships with other countries is crumbling, our jobless/homeless rate is not improving, and our economy is struggling. And that's just the tip of the iceberg! There are so many issue in the news right now that are a bit controversial from foreign affairs and immigration to health care and the right to privacy. What do you know about any of these? To become a well rounded student and citizen of our nation, you should always be aware of what is going on. Welcome to the Current Issues unit!
Throughout the unit, you will be required to research one topic you choose. In essence, you need to be the impartial expert who sees all sides of the issue fairly before you make your final determination on it. So let's get started. Below are a list (just my ideas) of issues that are hot topics in the news. You will each choose your top three issues, and I will assign from there. If you need to do some background searching to see if the topic is definitely one that interests you, please do. You'll have a few minutes before you have to turn in your choices.
Topics: NSA (National Security Agency) - spying and collection of information Gay marriage/Gay rights Our role in the Ukraine crisis Our relationship with Russia Global warming Illegal Immigration Affordable Care Act (Health care reform/Obamacare) IRS scandal Balanced budget (national deficit/raising the debt ceiling) War on terror (Iran/Afghanistan/Egypt) Standardized testing - Teacher evaluations - NCLB Education funding (PA state) Voucher program + Cyber school + Charter schools The fight against childhood obesity - School lunches (Michelle Obama's wellness plan) Entitlement (Welfare - food stamps) reform Gun control Unions Drug use in professional sports College/University tuition and scholarship standards Airplane safety - background checks Professional sports salaries Cutting of Arts/Music programs from schools Paparazzi (their "rights" vs. celebrity "rights") Legalizing Marijuana Organic food vs. chemically enhanced food Made in the U.S.A. products Outsourcing jobs to foreign countries Raising the minimum wage Prison overcrowding America being the World's watchdog Tax reform Focus on Mental Disabilities China's pollution problem
Please tell me if you have more to add to this list.... Choose your top three.
Throughout the unit, you will be required to research one topic you choose. In essence, you need to be the impartial expert who sees all sides of the issue fairly before you make your final determination on it. So let's get started. Below are a list (just my ideas) of issues that are hot topics in the news. You will each choose your top three issues, and I will assign from there. If you need to do some background searching to see if the topic is definitely one that interests you, please do. You'll have a few minutes before you have to turn in your choices.
Topics:
NSA (National Security Agency) - spying and collection of information
Gay marriage/Gay rights
Our role in the Ukraine crisis
Our relationship with Russia
Global warming
Illegal Immigration
Affordable Care Act (Health care reform/Obamacare)
IRS scandal
Balanced budget (national deficit/raising the debt ceiling)
War on terror (Iran/Afghanistan/Egypt)
Standardized testing - Teacher evaluations - NCLB
Education funding (PA state)
Voucher program + Cyber school + Charter schools
The fight against childhood obesity - School lunches (Michelle Obama's wellness plan)
Entitlement (Welfare - food stamps) reform
Gun control
Unions
Drug use in professional sports
College/University tuition and scholarship standards
Airplane safety - background checks
Professional sports salaries
Cutting of Arts/Music programs from schools
Paparazzi (their "rights" vs. celebrity "rights")
Legalizing Marijuana
Organic food vs. chemically enhanced food
Made in the U.S.A. products
Outsourcing jobs to foreign countries
Raising the minimum wage
Prison overcrowding
America being the World's watchdog
Tax reform
Focus on Mental Disabilities
China's pollution problem
Please tell me if you have more to add to this list....
Choose your top three.
WEBSITE LINKS: (You can "google" too. Just make sure the site where you find information is reliable!)
ABC News
MSNBC
Fox News
CNN
New York Times
Washington Post
L.A. Times
Chicago Tribune
Time
US News and World Report
Newsweek
USA Today